Stephen Losey

The Air Force wants to speed up efforts to become a more modern force, with new aircraft and research into technology such as drone wingmen.

The decision on Air Force One’s design ends years of debate across two administrations.

“The A-10 is a great airplane … in an uncontested environment,” Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown said.

“I started a fire,” Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown said of his Accelerate Change or Lose effort, and Frank Kendall “poured gas on it.”

The Air Force is trying to map out how it might operate, organize and support a fleet of autonomous drones flying alongside crewed fighters.

“Our mobility fleet can no longer operate forward with relative impunity,” Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said at the AFA Warfare Symposium.

Boeing’s contract will be worth up to $1.2 billion, as the service begins work on a fleet to replace the iconic E-3 Sentry.

The affected F-35s could be back in the air in one to two weeks.